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Drastically downsizing my gear, need advice

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Thorstein Korsvold

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Hello,

I just bought a brand new car, and now I will have to sell almost all my photo equipment to finance it. That hurts, but on the other hand my wife will probably start working this summer or fall, after that I can buy everything I need again.

The whole deal is disappointing photo-wise, but we absolutely needed to do this, and I'm only going to be without my equipment for 6-8 months.

However I'm definitely not going to stop having photography as a hobby in the meantime. I would like some advice on how to sell most of what I have and still have the minimum equipment needed to take decent photos.

I mainly do landscape photography and take portraits and action photos of my two kids. Some macro as well.

here's the gear i own today:
  • Canon 5D mk2
  • Canon 17-40mm f4
  • Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
  • Sigma 150mm macro
  • Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS mark I (my favorite lens, tack sharp - but needs a lot of microadjustment, +15 in the 5D mk2)
  • Canon 300mm f4 (non IS)
  • Kenko Teleplus DG pro 300 1.4X tele converter
  • Two Nissin Di866 flashes
  • Canon 420EX flash
  • Sony NEX-5
  • Sony 18-55mm IS for NEX
  • Sony 16mm f2.8 for NEX.
I guess I will definitely start by selling the NEX-5 with the two lenses. The camera is ok, but the lack of good primes is disappointing. My compact kit has got to go.

I'm also thinking about selling all the rest of my equipment except for one of the Nissin flashes and the 70-200mm. That should generate some cash.

As a replacement for the Canon 5D mark II, I'm thinking about just buying a Canon 500D on sale (very cheap now). When I can afford it again this summer, I'll get a 5D mark III. Hopefully that camera will be out by this summer or this fall.

That would leave me with:

Canon 500D
18-55mm kit lens
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS
Nissin Di866 flash

Any thoughts? The lack of microadjustment on the 500D will make my 70-200 a lot less sharp :-(

I've been thinking a lot about getting a Sigma 30mm 1.4, or something similar, or maybe a cheap macro lens, but I guess the most likely candidate for low light is simply to use the flash. An alternative is to get a Canon 50mm f1.8. There are a lot of other options, like the 85mm 1.8 for portraits or a used Sigma 10-20mm for wide angle. Advice would be appreciated!
 
Just keep these for now and sell the rest.

•Canon 5D mk2

•Canon 17-40mm f4

You might not get as much as you want on used gears.
 
Your 4-item kit looks fine to me.

The 50 f1.8 could be a treat sometime you deserve a $100 reward.

BAK
 
If you want to put the 70-200 in the closet until you get another 5D, because you love it so much, that's sensible, but on the 500D body it's going to feel like a different lens--no micro adjust possible, and the 1.6x crop factor is going to make it seem a lot longer than it used to be, possibly not what you need.
 
Ouch!

Sorry to hear that, but life is life...

Personally I would sell it all if I needed cash, especially since Canon L glass is the only equipment I have had a reasonable price for when selling my own stuff.
Then I would settle for the cheaper Canon with only one kit lens.

Maybe the 100L can be a keeper as it tripples as macro/portrait/tele lens on the crop body you plan to have in the near future? A bit long for portraits, but still usable. Also very portable on that smaller body as opposed to the 70-200.

I could sell many things from my own equipment if I had to, but the 100L, that would break my heart.

Br

Marcus

--
5D mk2
Sigma 12-24 HSM EX
50 f/1,2L
85 f/1,2L
100 macro IS f/2,8L
24-105 IS f/4L
70-200 IS f/2,8L
70-300 IS f/4-5.6 L
Canon EF 2x II Extender
Canon EF 25 II Extension tube
Speedlite 580
MT-24EX
BG-E6

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcusaxlund/
 
I would just sell off everything but the 28-75, 5D II, and one flash (maybe keep the macro) if $ are your motivation. I don't think you will be happy with a Rebel after using full frame. I wasn't too happy with the 70-200 f2.8 IS (MK I) except of sports on crop, which was my motivator for going full frame.
 
If you really need the money, sell it all.

Get your hands on a used 40D or 5D1, or maybe a 550D. And a 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 lens.

That's all you need.
 
Sounds like good advice. I'm leaning towards selling everything (except one flash) and buying a cheap 500D+kit lens. Mihgt buy a Canon 100mm f2.8L macro to supplement it, it's an excellent lens!

T
 
What kind of car did you buy?
 
Not exactly financial problems.

I just spent a whole lot of money on a brand new Skoda Superb (for those interested). For the next 6-8 months, this means I have to sell my photo gear, use all my savings etc. And we really needed a car.

After the summer, my wife finishes her studies, and I can hopefully buy a new body and a lot of lenses again :-)

So this post is just about what I should sell now, and what I should keep. Even if I buy a (used) 100L, all the rest can be sold for a decent amount of money.
 
Do not sell your 5Dmk2 ... Trust me, it's not easy to go from full frame to crop. Not only that, but lenses hold their value well, you shouldn't lose too much on them when you sell them.

Sell everything but your Nissin Flashes and the 70-200 ... Whatever you do, just keep the body.
Thorstein Korsvold said:
Hello,

I just bought a brand new car, and now I will have to sell almost all my photo equipment to finance it. That hurts, but on the other hand my wife will probably start working this summer or fall, after that I can buy everything I need again.

The whole deal is disappointing photo-wise, but we absolutely needed to do this, and I'm only going to be without my equipment for 6-8 months.

However I'm definitely not going to stop having photography as a hobby in the meantime. I would like some advice on how to sell most of what I have and still have the minimum equipment needed to take decent photos.

I mainly do landscape photography and take portraits and action photos of my two kids. Some macro as well.

here's the gear i own today:
  • Canon 5D mk2
  • Canon 17-40mm f4
  • Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
  • Sigma 150mm macro
  • Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS mark I (my favorite lens, tack sharp - but needs a lot of microadjustment, +15 in the 5D mk2)
  • Canon 300mm f4 (non IS)
  • Kenko Teleplus DG pro 300 1.4X tele converter
  • Two Nissin Di866 flashes
  • Canon 420EX flash
  • Sony NEX-5
  • Sony 18-55mm IS for NEX
  • Sony 16mm f2.8 for NEX.
I guess I will definitely start by selling the NEX-5 with the two lenses. The camera is ok, but the lack of good primes is disappointing. My compact kit has got to go.

I'm also thinking about selling all the rest of my equipment except for one of the Nissin flashes and the 70-200mm. That should generate some cash.

As a replacement for the Canon 5D mark II, I'm thinking about just buying a Canon 500D on sale (very cheap now). When I can afford it again this summer, I'll get a 5D mark III. Hopefully that camera will be out by this summer or this fall.

That would leave me with:

Canon 500D
18-55mm kit lens
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS
Nissin Di866 flash

Any thoughts? The lack of microadjustment on the 500D will make my 70-200 a lot less sharp :-(

I've been thinking a lot about getting a Sigma 30mm 1.4, or something similar, or maybe a cheap macro lens, but I guess the most likely candidate for low light is simply to use the flash. An alternative is to get a Canon 50mm f1.8. There are a lot of other options, like the 85mm 1.8 for portraits or a used Sigma 10-20mm for wide angle. Advice would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
 
Thorstein Korsvold said:
I guess I will definitely start by selling the NEX-5 with the two lenses. The camera is ok, but the lack of good primes is disappointing. My compact kit has got to go.
Click to expand...
Agree sell the NEX-5 + 2 lens. NEX doesn't make much sense with 18-55mm zoom kit on it, as it makes it too big and required a camera bag. NEX 16mm f2.8 is the only pancake primes and not the sharpest. Sony should release a series of pancake primes from 16mm to 85mm, until then, sell the NEX-5 + 2 kit lens will pay for your Canon 550d body.
Thorstein Korsvold said:
That would leave me with:
Canon 500D
18-55mm kit lens
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS
Nissin Di866 flash
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Great Reduction Plan. 18-55mm IS is actually very sharp @18mm, it is more than satisfactory for landscape work. The 70-200mm f/2.8 will serve your portrait + minor telephoto needs. Those 2 lens should easily cover 90% of an average shooting needs.
Thorstein Korsvold said:
here's the gear i own today:
  • Canon 5D mk2
  • Canon 17-40mm f4
  • Tamron 28-75mm f2.8
  • Sigma 150mm macro
  • Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS mark I (my favorite lens, tack sharp - but needs a lot of microadjustment, +15 in the 5D mk2)
  • Canon 300mm f4 (non IS)
  • Kenko Teleplus DG pro 300 1.4X tele converter
  • Two Nissin Di866 flashes
  • Canon 420EX flash
  • Sony NEX-5
  • Sony 18-55mm IS for NEX
  • Sony 16mm f2.8 for NEX.
I'm also thinking about selling all the rest of my equipment except for one of the Nissin flashes and the 70-200mm. That should generate some cash.

As a replacement for the Canon 5D mark II, I'm thinking about just buying a Canon 500D on sale (very cheap now). When I can afford it again this summer, I'll get a 5D mark III. Hopefully that camera will be out by this summer or this fall.

I've been thinking a lot about getting a Sigma 30mm 1.4, or something similar, or maybe a cheap macro lens, but I guess the most likely candidate for low light is simply to use the flash. An alternative is to get a Canon 50mm f1.8. There are a lot of other options, like the 85mm 1.8 for portraits or a used Sigma 10-20mm for wide angle. Advice would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
 
+1! :-)
 
Yes! Calibration!

Why didn't I think of that?

Anyway, I guess I'll keep the 70-200 if I can afford it, get a 500D or a 550D if I can find one cheap, and use the 18-55 IS kit lens.

Thanks for the advice!
 
Sell the car and buy a Bianchi cyclecross bike
 
You could sell everything but the body and get a 50/1.8. That way you will be forced to use it and explore new things and approaches.
 
Nice car BTW. I guess you and your significant other are struggling students? I guess you have to make sacrifices for now. After a while you won't miss your gear if you do indeed sell them since you're going to be too busy for your studies. I would still keep the 5DMII though, it's the most expensive part of your system and it does keep it's value over time.
 
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